Bowl Projections Week 12, Updated College Football Playoff Predictions
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We’re getting closer and closer to having the bowl matchups closer to locked down, but it all comes down to the College Football Playoff situation.
Will the Big 12 and/or ACC get more than one team in? How many Big Ten and SEC teams will get the call? Everything else revolves around that – scroll down for all our CFP matchups – and a few other bold predictions come into play.
A few things first …
Bowl Projections and College Football Playoff Predictions, Week 12
– The SEC probably won’t have enough teams to fill out the bowl spots. Assuming the conference will get four teams into the CFP, the pickings get slim in a hurry, thanks to the Florida loss to Kentucky.
Do you think the 4-5 Wildcats, after beating Tennessee Tech, will win one of the road games at Vanderbilt and Louisville? For now, we don’t, either. That means …
– The SEC will have an open bowl affiliation. There’s an easy fix for that, but that’s assuming Florida and Kentucky won’t get to six wins.
– The LA Bowl is strangely one of the key puzzle pieces. Even with the faceplant in Hawaii late Saturday night, San Diego State will probably end up being the Mountain West’s top team, and even if it isn’t, it’s the best team for the bowl.
However, the opponent is a current or former Pac-12 team, and the best options will be Washington State and Cal – SDSU played both already.
– The “former Pac-12 team” bowl ties are a bit restrictive. USC and Washington for the Big Ten, and Arizona State and Utah, are among the more attractive options from their respective conferences.
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Saturday, December 15, 2025
12:00, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC
Last Season: Jackson State 28, South Carolina State 7
Projection: Delaware State vs Jackson State
LA Bowl
Saturday, December 15, 2025
9:00, ESPN
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Bowl Affiliations: MW, Former Pac-12
Last Season: UNLV 24, Cal 13
Projection: San Diego State vs Arizona
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
9:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Projection: Jacksonville State vs Arkansas State
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
5:00, ESPN
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27
Projection: Miami University vs Old Dominion
68 Ventures Bowl
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
8:30, ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Sun Belt, CUSA
Last Season: Arkansas State 38, Bowling Green 31
Projection: Toledo vs Troy
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Friday, December 19, 2025
12:00 am, ESPN
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: UTSA 44, Coastal Carolina 15
Projection: App State vs East Carolina
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Friday, December 19, 2025
3:30, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Florida 33, Tulane 8
Projection: UConn vs James Madison
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Monday, December 22, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW, Sun Belt
Last Season: Northern Illinois 28, Fresno State 20 2OT
Projection: Ohio vs UNLV
Boca Raton Bowl
Tuesday, December 23
2:00, ESPN
Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: James Madison 27, WKU 17
Projection: Coastal Carolina vs Kennesaw State
New Orleans Bowl
Tuesday, December 23
7:00, ESPN2
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt
Last Season: Sam Houston 31, Georgia Southern 26
Projection: Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Tuesday, December 23
9:00, ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Gof5
Last Season: Memphis 42, West Virginia 37
Projection: Liberty vs Boise State
Hawaii Bowl
Wednesday, December 24
8:00, ESPN
Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MW, AAC
Last Season: USF 41, San Jose State 39 5OT
Projection: Louisiana Tech vs Hawaii
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Friday, December 26
1:00, ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, MAC,
Last Season: Toledo 48, Pitt 46 6OT
Projection: Northwestern vs Western Michigan
Rate Bowl
Friday, December 26
4:30, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Big 12, MW
Last Season: Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41
Projection: Minnesota vs Kansas State
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Friday, December 26
8:00, ESPN
Gerald R Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Gof5, ACC, Big 12
Last Season: Texas State 30, North Texas 28
Projection: UTSA vs Baylor
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
11:00 am, ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC
Last Season: East Carolina 26, NC State 21
Projection: Navy vs Florida State
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
2:15, ESPN
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC
Last Season: UConn 27, North Carolina 14
Projection: Tulane vs NC State
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
12:00, ABC
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten
Last Season: Nebraska 20, Boston College 15
Projection: Duke vs Penn State
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
3:30, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big 12
Last Season: Iowa State 42, Miami 41
Projection: Virginia vs TCU
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
4:30, CW Network
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW
Last Season: Miami University 43, Colorado State 17
Projection: Central Michigan vs Fresno State
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
5:45, ESPN
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, MW, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: TCU 34, Louisiana 3
Projection: North Texas vs New Mexico
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
7:30, ESPN
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC
Last Season: Ole Miss 52, Duke 20
Projection: Louisville vs Texas
Kinder’s Texas Bowl
Saturday, December 27, 2025
9:15, ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC
Last Season: LSU 44, Baylor 31
Projection: Houston vs Oklahoma
Birmingham Bowl
Monday, December 29, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Vanderbilt 35, Georgia Tech 27
Projection: Temple vs Utah State
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, Big 12, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Army 27, Louisiana Tech 6
Projection: Iowa State vs Cal
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
5:30, ESPN
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Missouri 27, Iowa 24
Projection: Nebraska vs LSU
Valero Alamo Bowl
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
9:00, ESPN
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, Former Pac-12
Last Season: BYU 36, Colorado 14
Projection: BYU vs USC
ReliaQuest Bowl
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
12:00, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC, ACC
Last Season: Michigan 19, Alabama 13
Projection: Illinois vs Vanderbilt
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
2:00, CBS
Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Louisville 35, Washington 34
Projection: SMU vs Arizona State
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
3:00, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Illinois 21, South Carolina 17
Projection: Michigan vs Tennessee
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
3:30, ESPN
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Former Pac-12
Last Season: USC 35, Texas A&M 31
Projection: Iowa vs Utah
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Friday, January 2, 2026
1:00, ESPN
Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, Big 12
Last Season: Navy 21, Oklahoma 20
Projection: Army vs Washington State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Friday, January 2, 2026
4:30, ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC
Last Season: Arkansas 39, Texas Tech 26
Projection: Cincinnati vs Memphis*
*No SEC team projected available
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Friday, January 2, 2026
8:00, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC
Last Season: Minnesota 24, Virginia Tech 10
Projection: Wake Forest vs Missouri
Holiday Bowl
Friday, January 2, 2026
Time TBD, FOX
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Syracuse 52, Washington State 35
Projection: Pitt vs Washington
College Football Playoff First Round
Friday, December 19, 2025
8:00 pm, ESPN
Home site of higher seed
Last Season: Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17
Projection: (9) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at (8) Oregon Ducks
Saturday, December 20, 2025
12:00 pm, ESPN
Home site of higher seed
Last Season: Texas 38, Clemson 24
Projection: (12) USF Bulls at (5) Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, December 20, 2025
3:30 pm, TNT/truTV
Home site of higher seed
Last Season: Penn State 38, SMU 10
Projection: (10) Miami Hurricanes at (7) Ole Miss Rebels
Saturday, December 20, 2025
7:30 pm, TNT/truTV
Home site of higher seed
Last Season: Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17
Projection: (11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (6) Georgia Bulldogs
After the first round, the 5 vs 12 winner plays the 4, the 8 vs 9 winner plays the 1, and that’s one side of the bracket.
On the other side, the 5 vs 11 winner plays the 3, and 7 vs 10 winner plays the 2.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
7:30, ESPN
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Last Season: Ohio State 28, Texas 14 (CFP Semifinal)
Projection: (5) Alabama Crimson Tide vs (4) Indiana Hoosiers
Capital One Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 1, 2025
12:00, ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC
Last Season: Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24 (CFP Semifinal)
Projection: (11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential
Thursday, January 1, 2025
4:00, ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten
Last Season: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21 (CFP Quarterfinal)
Projection: (8) Oregon Ducks vs (1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Thursday, January 1, 2025
8:00, ESPN
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12 or SEC (higher-ranked champion)
Last Season: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10 (CFN Quarterfinal)
Projection: (7) Ole Miss Rebels vs (2) Texas A&M Aggies
College Football Playoff Semifinals
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Thursday, January 8, 2026
7:30, ESPN
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: 1/8/9 seed vs 4/5/12 seed or 3/6/11 seed vs 2/7/10 seed
Last Season: Penn State 31, Boise State 14 (CFP Quarterfinal)
Projection: (4) Indiana Hoosiers vs (1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Friday, January 9, 2026
7:30, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Affiliations: 1/8/9 seed vs 4/5/12 seed or 3/6/11 seed vs 2/7/10 seed
Last Season: Texas 39, Arizona State 31 2OT (CFP Quarterfinal)
Projection: (11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs (2) Texas A&M Aggies
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, January 19, 2026
7:30, ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Last Season: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
Projection: (11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Related: College Football Playoff & Bowl Picture Week 12: Where Every Team Stands
This story was originally reported by College Football News on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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